Pride is a celebration focused on the 2SLGBTQ+ community: anyone whose sexuality or gender identity differs from the heterosexual or cisgender* falls under that umbrella.
Let's talk about the folks we serve in relation to that community.
We know that four per cent of Canada's population identifies as gay, and .3 per cent of the population are transgender.
When we look at older generations, however, that amount drops significantly. For example, 55+ individuals make up about 37 per cent of Canada's population, yet only make up 16 per cent of our 2SLGBTQ+ community. Why is that?
One reason is that it was less acceptable for folks to come out in previous generations, and as society has progressed and knowledge has increased, more people feel comfortable coming out.
However, a major part of this is in relation to the AIDS epidemic of the 80s and 90s.
AIDS killed 324,029 men and women in the USA between 1987 and 1998. This directly affected the Baby Boomer population.
By 1995, 10% of men aged 25-44 who identified as gay had died – a literal decimation of this cohort of gay men born 1951-1970.
For perspective, the number of men who died in WW2 in the United States was around 404,000.
There aren't as many recorded statistics for Canada, compared to the US, but we can see why it's rare for us to have 2SLBGTQ+ elders in our communities, and why those who persist may have decided to stay closeted due to the discrimination.
How bad was the discrimination in Canada? Starting in the 1950s, homosexuality was considered a character defect. There were purges of those who held government positions and were identified as gay. This would include spying, encouraging co-workers to disclose the sexuality of their colleagues, or forced confessions.
These purges lasted all the way into the 1990s, remarkably. Many lives were shattered.
Our 2SLGBTQ+ elders are also at greater risk of experiencing loneliness or social isolation, fears about going into private seniors’ residences and long-term care facilities, and continued discrimination.
There are groups that aim to help, however.
Rainbow Elders is a fantastic group that meets at the Calgary Kerby Centre monthly. For more information, check out their website at www.rainbowelderscalgary.ca